From The Inside Of Amboy Crater, Winter 2017

Well now I won’t have to die saying that I never climbed a volcano and stood in the center of it! Though this one last erupted about 10,000 years ago, it’s still amazing.

Amboy Crater is made of nested cinder cones in the heart of the Mojave Desert. I was in love with this place the first time I saw this stark pile of rubble that makes up the crater itself and the otherworldly field of jet black basaltic lava surrounding it. Since then, I’ve visited several times at different times of year, spending lots of time photographing it. Until now I’ve only made one successful picture there, this one being the second picture that I’m satisfied enough with to share.

This might be the closest I’ve ever come to making a perfect picture. Closest to “perfect” at least in terms of what I want to achieve by making pictures. In this case, much credit goes to luck; being in the right place at the right time. (If only these sort of atmospheric conditions could be predicted and planned for.) After a long meandering walk through the lava field making dozens of exposures, I entered the crater. I turned to look at the sun. Not only was the ephemeral sun halo still there but the alignment of all the elements spoke so profoundly to me. I was so happy to be there, only intensifying my love affair with the Mojave Desert.